I just returned from getting my prescriptions filled. I took in a bottle of Doxcycline that I got in may of 2009 to make sure it was still good. Turned out it had expired and DR. told me taking it after it has expired can be vary harmfull to your health. Things like kidney failure and such.
Thought I would pass this on.

Keep antibiotics in freezer to prolong their chemical stability.

quote:

DR. told me taking it after it has expired can be vary harmfull to your health. Things like kidney failure and such.

I would certainly get an "in date bottle"...but the above is not true. Maybe...and I say maybe...if it were 5 or > years old and had set in the hot sun for that period of time...there might be some chemical decay producing a toxic breakdown chemical...but if so...I have never heard of such.

Worst thing would be ineffectiveness...which is bad enough. Most products have an extra year built in th shelf-life beyond expiration. Think about it for a minute...med expires on 9-2011...is it good on 10-1-2011...of course.

But...why chance malaria or tick-fever...get an in date bottle for $30.00!

I second the above by the good doctor, that has been the reply form a number of doctors that I have hunted..

Doxcycline is strong stuff. I was prescribed a two week course to clear up Lymes disease - made me feel away with the pixies. I then had a two week clear period and was put on another two week course. My kidney's and liver really started playing up so was put onto amoxyclyine instead.

BTW have had both malaria and bilharzia, but Lymes is far worse - picked up from a tick in the highlands of scotland, but is its becoming a real problem across the UK and I believe in North America.

I took doxy back in the late 80's/early-mid 90's working in Africa. I was rotating in and out a month at a time. But you must continue the regimen for a month after leaving the malarial area, so I found myself on it all the time. Malarone did not exist at the time. I became concerned about the potential long term effects, so I just quit taking it and used insect repellent and sprayed my tent down with Doom every night and never got malaria. The only reaction I suffered was increased sun sensitivity. Larium was never an option because I was flying every other day.

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
I took doxy back in the late 80's/early-mid 90's working in Africa. I was rotating in and out a month at a time. But you must continue the regimen for a month after leaving the malarial area, so I found myself on it all the time. Malarone did not exist at the time. I became concerned about the potential long term effects, so I just quit taking it and used insect repellent and sprayed my tent down with Doom every night and never got malaria. The only reaction I suffered was increased sun sensitivity. Larium was never an option because I was flying every other day.

How's your nose after the Doom? When last did you smell a rose?

you can lessen the sun sensitivity factor by taking the doxy at night

JD - What, no Larium? Could have been flying in aircraft one day, then flying on Larium the next.

I carry Doxy just in case of tick bite fever, never have used it for Maliara prevention. I always renew my meds that I carry for prevention and treatment while abroad before they are a year past date on bottle.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
I took doxy back in the late 80's/early-mid 90's working in Africa. I was rotating in and out a month at a time. But you must continue the regimen for a month after leaving the malarial area, so I found myself on it all the time. Malarone did not exist at the time. I became concerned about the potential long term effects, so I just quit taking it and used insect repellent and sprayed my tent down with Doom every night and never got malaria. The only reaction I suffered was increased sun sensitivity. Larium was never an option because I was flying every other day.

I just finished a bout of tick fever I got in RSA They started Me on Cipro and it didn't do the job. Doxcycline knocked it out in 5 days.

Blleeeechhh... Doxy made me sick as a pig!!!

But then again.. I've had bad reactions from all the other Anti-Meds also..

So it seems Just Deet for the remainder of my African day's..

On all my african trips I took doxycycline. 100mg per day, 4 weeks before, during the trip and 4 weeks after. Never felt a thing, no sun sensitivity and a very fast healing rate of any cuts/scrapes I picked up. My wife had one episode of vomiting and that's the worst of it.
Good stuff is Doxycycline, will take it again to prevent and hopefully not to treat.

best wishes,

Finman

My father-n-law gave me a round of Doxy on my last trip to masiland and I will not use it for a malari prevention again. While it was easy on my stomach and produced no strange dreaming trying to hunt that country in December and staying out of the sun doesnt happen. My exposed arms and neck never tanned, which they normally do very quickly.

I have used a 50 day routine of Doxy for the last 10yrs going to Africa and I always take them prior to bed in the evening. I also do Larium. Belt and suspender kind of guy.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

DR. told me taking it after it has expired can be vary harmfull to your health. Things like kidney failure and such.

I would certainly get an "in date bottle"...but the above is not true. Maybe...and I say maybe...if it were 5 or > years old and had set in the hot sun for that period of time...there might be some chemical decay producing a toxic breakdown chemical...but if so...I have never heard of such.

Worst thing would be ineffectiveness...which is bad enough. Most products have an extra year built in th shelf-life beyond expiration. Think about it for a minute...med expires on 9-2011...is it good on 10-1-2011...of course.

But...why chance malaria or tick-fever...get an in date bottle for $30.00!

Actually, this is true. Tetracyclines are one of the few drugs that DO breakdown into toxic compounds as they deteriorate. Listen to your physician. DO NOT take expired tetracyclines. Most other drugs just lose activity as they age, but doxy does become toxic with time.

Wes

I've been taking doxy daily for four years now. It's for rosacea that affects my eyes. What's the usual dosage for malaria? I take 50mg daily now.
All tetracyclines will break down with time into substances that can cause renal damage. The problem is, there's no set rate for the breakdown. To be safe, don't use the old stuff.

Mike

Patients taking doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis should be advised:
That no present-day antimalarial agent, including doxycycline, guarantees protection against malaria.
To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by using personal protective measures that help avoid contact with mosquitoes, especially from dusk to dawn (eg, staying in well-screened areas, using mosquito nets, covering the body with clothing, and using an effective insect repellent).
That doxycycline prophylaxis:
Should begin 1 to 2 days before travel to the malarious area.
Should be continued daily while in the malarious area and after leaving the malarious area.
Should be continued for 4 further weeks to avoid development of malaria after returning from an endemic area.
Should not exceed 4 months.


All patients taking doxycycline should be advised:
To avoid excessive sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light while receiving doxycycline and to discontinue therapy if phototoxicity (eg, skin eruption) occurs. Sunscreen or sunblock should be considered.
To drink non-dairy fluids liberally along with doxycycline to reduce the risk of esophageal irritation and ulceration.
That the absorption of tetracyclines is reduced when taken with foods, especially those which contain calcium. If GI upset occurs, administration with a small amount of a low-fat, low-protein, non-dairy food may reduced upset, but the potential risk of decreased drug efficacy must be weighed against the benefit of treating the infection with this antibiotic.
To notify their healthcare providers if GI disturbances develop.
That the absorption of tetracyclines is reduced when taking bismuth subsalicylate.
That the use of doxycycline might increase the incidence of vaginal candidiasis.

Never take any tetracycline class antibiotic after the expiration date.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

DR. told me taking it after it has expired can be vary harmfull to your health. Things like kidney failure and such.

I would certainly get an "in date bottle"...but the above is not true. Maybe...and I say maybe...if it were 5 or > years old and had set in the hot sun for that period of time...there might be some chemical decay producing a toxic breakdown chemical...but if so...I have never heard of such.

Worst thing would be ineffectiveness...which is bad enough. Most products have an extra year built in th shelf-life beyond expiration. Think about it for a minute...med expires on 9-2011...is it good on 10-1-2011...of course.

But...why chance malaria or tick-fever...get an in date bottle for $30.00!

Lane

Whilst I make no claims to being a doctor, my wife has just been extremely ill after taking some expired doxy. She developed mouth and oesophageal ulcerations, had several days of severe kidney pain and was basically extremely unwell. Our doctor referred her to a specialist who advised that the whole episode was as a result of taking the expired doxy. I must add that my wife didnt know the doxy had expired as the date was smudged on the bottle after some cough mixture leaked onto the label. My wife doesnt "do" dairy products so the ulceration was not a reaction to dairy of any sorts. I personally do feel however that she may have had an allergic reaction to the doxy which would have occurred even if the doxy was still within its shelf life.
It did cure the tick bite fever though